Registered Office :: Unauthorized Use

Here's how to respond correctly – if your Limited is registered at Companies House with an improperly used registered office address as the "default address".

Every English Limited must have a registered office address in the UK. This is usually provided by a local service provider.

If the service contract ends - for example, because the service provider is not paid - the service provider will generally contact Companies House and inform them that the registered office address recorded in Companies House is being used without authorization.

In the first step, Companies House then writes to the Ltd and informs them that they have been notified by the service provider. This usually happens with a letter that contains the following content:

"Registered office address: ##

We’ve received an application from ## to Change the registered office address of the above Company.

They think the Company doesn’t have permission to use the address as its registered office because the address is being used without consent.

To support the application, they have sent us: End of Contract ..."

If there is no response to this, Companies House will change the registered office to a "COMPANIES HOUSE DEFAULT" address and inform the Ltd again.

As part of English legal amendments in 2024, the handling of unauthorized office use has been tightened. Such unauthorized use now leads to the compulsory dissolution of the LTD. Therefore, urgent action is required if you receive a corresponding letter from Companies House.

What should be done?

It is generally advisable to clarify the situation with the service provider to maintain a working address in the UK. After the registered office has been switched to the Companies House Default Office, you can no longer change it electronically - more on this below.

If you are our client, you typically have your address with our preferred office service provider, CFS Formations. Please follow the instructions below for payment. Alternatively, we are also happy to help with clarification. From the billing period 2024, this support is part of our Secretary Service Package.

Office Payment at CFS:

Go to cfsformations.com:

Log in with your username and password. You can find the login at the top right corner "Sign In". If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgotten Password" function.

If you do not remember your username, please write to us (info@firmengruendung.de) or to cfs (cfs@cfsformations.com), mentioning your Limited's name, requesting the username.

After logging in at cfsformations.com, go to the shopping cart (blue icon at the top right, next to "Sign In"). In the Basket, you should find a product "registered office".

If the shopping cart is empty, please write the following email to cfs@cfsformations.com:

"Dear CFS Team, we would like to pay for our limited #insert your Ltd name# the registered office. Our username is #insert your username#. Unfortunately, the shopping cart on your website is empty. Could you please add the necessary products."

Payment in the Basket can be made either by credit card, PayPal, or by bank transfer. Payment by credit card or PayPal is recommended as it is most cost-effective and fastest for you. If you prefer to transfer, download the Proforma Invoice (yellow button). On the Proforma Invoice, you will find two bank details at the bottom. Please use the lower one (for Oversea customers). Be sure to include your username in the transfer.

Changing the registered office from the Default Office to a new address

After Companies House has determined that the registered office address was used without authorization and therefore switched to a Default address, the office can no longer be changed online using the AD01 form. The AD01 form must be sent to Companies House along with the following evidence by mail:

• Documentation proving ownership rights of the company or a group company to the headquarters of the registered office, including lease or ownership rights or a written agreement allowing the company or a group company to use the address as the registered office of the company
• A utility bill addressed to the company or a group company at the registered office address within the last 6 months
• Any other information or documents showing that the company has permission to use a proposed address for its registered office